A COK Report:
Animal Suffering in the Turkey Industry

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Breeders

Each year in the United States, approximately 4 million turkeys are used to breed other turkeys.(52) These "breeders" have the same genetic predisposition for fast growth, skeletal disorders, and heart disease. If their food intake were unrestricted, few would survive to sexual maturity, and most would suffer from reproductive disorders, decreasing egg production.(53) Turkey breeders are, therefore, fed as little as half of the amount of food they would eat on unrestricted diets.(54)

Food restriction in poultry is believed to cause "general undernourishment, specific nutritional deficiency, and frustration."(55) The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare concluded that, "current commercial food restriction of breeding birds causes poor welfare."(56)

Turkey breeders undergo a series of mutilations meant to reduce the side effects of intensive confinement, such as disease and aggression. A portion of their beaks and toes are cut off, and males also have their snoods cut off. These mutilations are performed without anesthetic and are believed to cause both acute and chronic pain.(57)

Because breeders live longer than other turkeys, their skeletal problems are more severe. At termination of breeding, at least 75 percent of breeders suffer from abnormal gait or lameness.(58) One study of turkey breeders found that, by the time of slaughter, between 25 and 81 percent of males suffered destructive cartilage loss in the hip joint, and 54 percent suffered serious hip lesions.(59) Another study found that all male breeders had extensive hip joint degeneration. The study also found results strongly suggestive that turkeys experience chronic pain from hip problems.(60) Reported mortality rates among breeders range between 25 and 66 percent.(61)

Male turkeys have been bred for such large breast muscles that natural mating has become physically impossible. Artificial insemination is now the standard practice.(62) Male breeding turkeys are "milked" for semen collection and female turkeys are inseminated by tube or syringe.

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